Box-end-making machine



`une 10; 1930.r HP SCHUCK '15762,643

E l Box END MAKING MACHINE Filed March 7, 195o 5 sheep'sfsht 1 Hmmm l?8GHz/CK .Fune 10, 1930. A H. P. scHUcK BOX END MAKING MACHINE man@ 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '7, 1930 (jnvenfozl HA/MDPSC/fz/C/f Junelo,1930. H'. P. SCHUCK BOX END MAKING MACHINE Filed MaICh 7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 `une 10, 1930. HA P. scHUcK BX END MAKTNG MACHINE Filed March 7,1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 une m, E935@ H. P. sca-NGN v Box END MAKINGMACHINE Filed March 7, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 me/nto@ hr4/m0 P5 U11/cfr.n Patented dune.

PATENT; OFFICE vHAROLD PITMAN SCHU'CKv, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

.'BOX-ENDx-MAKING MACHINE Application mea Maren '7, 1930. serial No.434,066.

This invention ,relates to composite-panelmaking machines of thecharacter set forth in my co-pe'nding application Serial No. 337,441tiled FebruaryiA, 1929, for box-end making machines and aims to providefurther improvements whereby a plurality of cleats may be appliedsimultaneously to grooved sections to form two or more in one panel andso double or still higher increase the gross output capacity of themachine.-

The invention will be best understood by description with reference tothe attached drawings wherein one practicable embodis ment isillustrated in a machine of construction similar to that shown in theaforesaid co-pending application.

In said drawings: y Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine with partsparticularly appel-taining tothe present invention drawn in heavy lines;

Fig. '2 is a rear-end elevation of the ma# chine on enlarged scale; l/f/ Figs. 3 and 3a-are enlarged longitudinal sections respectively ofthe forward and rearward halves of themachine drawn to the samev scalefor placing together to show a complete section; and

Fig. 4 is a front-end section of the machine on enlarged scale andomitting details of construction not directly concerned with thisinvention.

The illustrative machine like that of the co-pending application isadapted to make composite box-ends or panels from lumber of odd lengthsand widths.. By easy re-adjustment and change of certain parts, it isadapted also to make parquet floor sections and the like. It may.facilitate understanding to here state that the machine assembles anumber of wooden slats or pieces side-byside and then unites them in arigid panel v by first trimming and grooving their ends and thereafterforcing glue-coated` cleats into the ends. Scrap-lumber from saw-millsmay 45 advantageously 'he used for the purpose at y much saving inmaterial and expense.

Like the machine of said co-pending application, the instant one vhas awork-table formed by complementary slab sections 5 50 supported on sidepedestals 6 providing a strong and heavy structure (see Figs. 3 and 3a).On a rear-corner of this table is a hopper comprisinga bottom 7, afront-plate 8` with discharge opening 8a and side-plates 9 and 10. Oneof the side-,plates is shown laterally movable by a bar 11 extendingthrough clamp-bracket 12 for altering the hopper width. A combinedback-wall, assemblyplatform and guide is provided by an inverted U-plate13 supported on brackets 14 50 for slide movement toward and from -thefront-plate (see Figs. 1 and 2).

Into saidf hopper the odd lengths of lumber are piled in tiers ofseveral lying side-byside in parallel relation to the rear edge of e5the table. The number of slats in each tier will of course depend ontheir widths and the side-plate adjustment of the hopper, and they mayvary somewhat in length to a maximum for which the back-plate 13 is set.An at- 70 tendant supplying the hopper will find it convenient toarrange the slats in tiers on the top of the back-plate from which hemay easily shovethem into the hopper.

Under the hopper'is a conveyor, which in 75 this instance comprises apair of endlesschains 15 running in grooves in the bottom or table andcarrying one or more cross-bars 16. Thesev chains pass around pairs ofsprockets 17 and 18 keyed respectively on 80 shafts 19 and 20 and drivenby power applied Aas later described. r

The cross-bar (or bars) of this conveyor engages successively behind theendsof the lowermost tier of slats in the hopper and pushes g5 themforward through the discharge opening 81 to position overlying anotherconveyor, their outward movement being limited by an abutment piece 21opposite said opening. By thus removing the slats longitudinally insteadof laterally, the possibility of jamming against superposed tiers iseliminated.

The said another orsecond conveyor com# prises apair of endless chains22 moving longitudinally of the table at substantially right angles tothe first and carrying spaced abutments or cross-bars 23. These chainspass around pairs of sprockets 24 and 25 keyed respectively on shafts 26and 27 and driven by power applied to the last-mentioned shaft Iarsenale through achainnorfbelt 28 from a speedV rebut obviously numbermay loe used ac ducer ass'ociated-with amotor 29 (see Figs.' 3 andB).

lt may here be stated that the drive V11n-y parted to shaft 26 isadvantageously transf mitted tothe aforementioned.` shaft byintermeshing beveled vgears 30 and 31, so 'that The. 'econd conveyorruns between ledgerails 32 extending in' parallel relationlongitudinally of the table and providing guides'. -between which theslats delivered across the conveyor are moved laterally along the table.

' 15. Between the conveyor chains, a sill-plate 313 extends level withtheledge-rails and thereC with provides grooves for the chains 'andfl-and 2). Q 20 also aslide-platfoinn for the slats (see Figs.

The abntmentsof this second conveyor successively engage behind thetiers of slats delivered sucessively thereover by the first couveyor andpush them laterally along the slideplatform between the aforesaid ledge`rails to the forward exid of tabla During -fthis movement and alsoduring removal from 4the hopper, the slats are held down firmly by oftheslide-platform, which act on the ends of the slats with yieldingpressure forcing their opposite ends to alinement against the shoulderedrail or guide at the other side ofthe platform (see ig. l).

Advancing continuously with the conveyor, 1

the slats are'next subjected to the actionV of a verticall saw '39 atthe side of saidlevers,

which trims the slatsto equal lengths so thatvr their ends may alignagainst the shouldered rail or guide at that side as well as the otherside of the platform. Said saw is shown pro- 'jecting through a'slot inthe ledge-rail and carried by the.u rotor-shaft of a motor 4l) which issupported below the table top in a bed movable transversely thereof fora purpose laterfexplained.

During said trimming operation, the slats are advantageously steadied bya springpressed roller 4l supported thereover adjacent ,the saw byabracket 4.2 which is 'bolted to one of the elevated rods 35 (see Fig.3).

On further advance, the slats are conveyed' between horizontal saWs`43/extending into their pat-h `of -movementso as to 'cut grooves in theedges at oppositeends thereof. rlhese saws having dust-shields 44 arecarried by4 the rotor-shafts of motors 45. rlwo saws are shown on eachshaft for thepurpose of cut. ting double vgrooves in both ends of theslats,

' greater than standard or usual thickness, it

cording to the nnmber'ofgrooves desired to v be cut. ln casesp-wnere theslats are or may be expedient to Y,thus formthr'ee or more grooves intheir-ends."Vv

.Said motors for these grooving saws 'are 'shown supported under thetable in carriages f 46 whiclrare'l mounted'forvertical and hori` zontalmovements, so as to bring the saws to desired elevation and spacing.adjustment.

This mounting is edectedthrough bed-plates 1 47 in which said carriagesare vertically slidable independentlyv by actuation o f screwshafts` 48turned by hand wheels 48a, while the 'bed-plates (shown dove-tailed witha transverse part ofthe work-table are hori' zontally'slidable, eitherindependently or cooperatively in opposite directions. ln this instancethey are co-operatively slidable by 85 a connecting two-way worm-shaft49 jour-v naled inthe table and operated as described' later. During thegrooving operation, the slats are held down by spring-pressedshoes notshown) sup orted by a bracket bolted tothe elevated ro 's 35 asillustrated for-example by the par-ts 50 and 5l in Fig. 3 of theaforesaid copendin'g application. i

Afterthe trimming and grooving opera- 5 tions, the slats are deliveredby the Conveyor onto a portion of the slide-platform between opposinghoppers for the insertion of cleats or splines into their grooved ends.

ln this delivery, the slats are impelled 100 somewhat forwardly of alpush-member 52 which normally projects above the platform surface, butyields against spring tension to permit the slats to ride thereover.This push-member thereupon engages behind the 05 slats and moves themforward to exact posi.-l tion between the opposing hoppers againsta'stop-bar 53, which latter is simultaneously raised'above the tabletop. Being thus positioned, the slats are then held under lateral" n()compressionbetweeny said push-member 'and stop-bar while the cleats aredriven into their grooved ends. The push-member is mounted to tiltforwhich is lslidably mounted on a pair of rods 55 extending rearwardlyfrom a second block 56 andfcarrying springs 5'( compressible behind thefirst-mentioned block for holding it normally abutting the second one. Abuffer-block 58 is advantageously placed behind the two blocks. Theseblocks are countersunk in a longitudinal opening 59 in the table top andform part of a slide structure actuated intermittently to advance thepushi215l member and simultaneously `Araise the stopbar against thetiers of wooden pieces successively delivered between the cleat hoppers.

Withysaid blocks, this slide structure coni"- f prises a frame ofparallel bars 60 having 130 vunde'i'.-carriage connection with the block56 and la supportingguide-block 6l which slides with the formeryfonguide-rails 62V' below the..

I table top. bnnected with the frame of bars 6() is shown ,a `long rod63 extending rearwardly thru a supportsbracket 64'and carry- ,.i'ng arecoil spring 65 between said bracket and a collar-member 63?l on itsfree end. This rod (hereinafter called the .pullback rod) compressessaid spring during forward move- .ment of the slide structure, therebystoring ture on pull-back-movement.

The aforesaid stop-bar embodies a T shaped membery having a roller 53aon its lower end and is shown vertically movable in a blockV 67. Thisblock is countersunk inthe opening 59 in the table top and is slidablyadjustable on the guide rails 62 for positioningthe-stop-bar accordingto the width-of composite sections to be formed, i. e., with itsabutment face in alignment (transversely of the table) .with theforwardly extended ends of cleats stacked in the hoppers on oppositesides of the slide-platform. Under action of a snap spring 67a i `withinsaid block and pressing against a part on the lower end of the stop-bar,the latter v is pushedi and held normally down below the surface of theslide-platform. l

-On the under-carriage frame of the aforesaid slide structure, acam-block 68 is shown adjustable according to positioning of the lstop-bar for lifting the latter above the platis supported in bearingsbelow the table` top and driven by the main shaft 27 through a chain 72passing over sprockets 7 3 and 74 respectively on the two shafts.

Said cam-member rotating with its shaft engages behind the aforesaidroller and thereby pushes the slide structure forwardly againstresistance of its pull-back rod. During this movement, the deliveredslats are positioned between the cleat hoppers by the aforesaidpush-member advancing them against the stop-bar. Atrthe limit of forwardmovement, saidroller rides over the leading edge of the cam-member andalong the top thereof, holding the slide structure in advancedposition'wthfthe slats compressed between said push-member and stop'- bar for andduring the cleating operation, whereupon the roller riding off the edgeof the cam-member releases the slide structure for snap7 return by thepullback rod. v

The tiers of slats first subjected to the trimming vand gro'ovingoperations are delivered successively by the conveyor between the cleathoppers immediately following the eleating operation on a precedingtier, each tier in delivery pushing its preceding cleated tier'forwardlyand off the table.

As already indicated, hoppers` for feeding cleats or splines forced intothe grooved ends f of the slats are opposingly arranged on oppositesides of the portion of slide-platform onto which the conveyor delivers(see Figs. l and 4).

According to this invention, a plurality of cleats are drivensimultaneously from these ho pers directly into the receptive grooves atthe different levels in both ends of the slats, so that aplurality-cleating of each tier or group' is accomplished in ya singlepassage through the machine. This is a marked improvement and advantageover the machine of the co-pending application wherein single cleatsonly can be applied at a time and double or more groovingof the slatsleaves it nevertheless necessary to overturn and run them again throughthe cleating section or else to pass them onto an auxiliary machine' forapplying the additional cleats at different level in order to accomplishthe same result. Without requiring any speed reduction, the inventionthus provides for the complete formation of plural-cleated compositepanels and therefore renders the machine capable of much higher outputwhere such panels are to be sawed into several of single- 1 cleatingeach.

The aforesaid hoppers each comprise adjacent rack-sections 7 5 and 76which are adjustable laterally (by set screws and slotting) according tothe length of cleats to be applied to the grooved slat tiers, and inwhich the cleatsare stacked side-to-side upon one another. Thefirst-mentioned and shorter of these sections accommodate single stacksof the cleats and discharge the same laterally in required plurality atal time into the receiving ends of .the slats positioned therebetween asabove described, while the last-mentioned and taller of the sections aclcommodate a plurality of stacks and feed the cleats longitudinally tothe aforesaid discharging sections in number corresponding with thenumber discharged thereby so as to keep them fully. supplied.

In the illustrative machine adapted to apply only two cleats to each(double grooyed) stack. bottoms at oifset levels slightly above m thetops of the' discharge sections, and those of thelatter represented at 75a' being located at the'levels of the grooves in the slats brought toposition therebetween. Plates 77 -on the frontsof these dischargesections (see Figs.l Sand 4)- provide travel-ledges for the 'cleats.expelled therefroml at levels above their bottom extreme and serve toprevent out-push of cleats intermediate the levels of expulsion.

rlhe two sections of eachhopper are connected by a bridge-member showncomprising a glue-receptacle 78 over which .the cleats in successivepluralities are fed lon itudiA nallyfrom the taller tothe shorter. nlessglue-coating is to be dispensed with, the

j cleats in so feeding are passed between glue-` applying rollers 79and80 journaled on said receptacle and the upper of which yields against.spring 81. aid upper roller 1s coated by drippings from' a superposedglue-` reservoiry 82- through spout 83, while the lower is heated byrotation in a bathof the glue within the receptacle. A cold moisture;

'proof glue has'l been found ypreferable for the purpose.

-ln the present arrangement,A one of the feeding-cleats is pushed todrop directly onto the stack in the discharge section, while the otheris pushed yto rest momentarily on the top `edge thereof beforedroppngalsotpito o owing i e-' said stack by a lateral push livery aswill hereinafter appear.

The glue-coated cleats'stached within the discharge sections ofthehoppers-- are `squeezed together by spring-tensioned temps' 84. :for thepurpose. of spreading the glue therebetween' so that each will acquirefull coating on both sides. rilhese t'amps depend fromspan-bars 85supported above the sections and lifted with each expulsion therefrbm'to permit replenishing cleats to feed vtli/ereinto as already described.The lift of saidfspan-ba'rs is edected by cam-elements 86 onreciprocating rods (to be mentioned later) acting thereunder againsthold-down springs 87 onfguides 88'therefor. Brackets 89'serve as guidesfor the forward ends of the rods on lwhich said vcam-elements arecarried. ,lf

preferred,v the lifting means-for these span-v bars may be'the same asemployed for the corresponding elements in the machine of the4(zo-pending application.

As before indicated, aplurality of cleats (corresponding with the numberof grooves out in the slats), or two in this instance, are

successively. positioned. therebetween.

expelled simultaneously frpm the discharge ysections;of the'oppo'sedhoppers and driven intothe receptiveendlgrooves of the slet-lge s isdone by reciprocable puslieijfnaeinbere4 op# erating simultaneousl inopposite directions.

These pusher-mem ers (see *Figylf are l carried by cross-heads 90 movingvin trans verse openin s 91 through the table top on shafts 92, t elatter being supported in brackets 92a above the aforementioned shaft7l. Said 'cross-heads' have cam-follower roll-l ers 93 moving inoppositelyl grooved`. cammembers`94 which are slidably keyed on theshaft 71 and act against fixed cushionsblocks 94, thereby adapting themto. simultaneous. v

reciprocable movement in opposite directions with other. 4 l

fAtlixedto these cross-heads are primary push-plates 95 (in numbercorresponding a pressure yield in approaching each with the number of.cleats to be 'driven-into the slats, being two in this instance):extendl ing 'forwardly on the levels of the expulsion slots in thedischarge sections of the hopper, so as coincidently to engage behindthe cleats at said levels and push them forcibly into thev opposinggrooves of the waiting slats, with movement of the cross-headsv .towardeach other. Said plates are adjustable independ-v ently by slotting ofthe cross-heads to `which allixture is advantageously' edected by 'bolt.

ing, while a yield of their pressure in applying the cleats to the slatsis atlorded by springs i 95a working againstv a back-plate or-lbar.'Tension -on the cross-heads in squeezing7 these push-plates againsttheslats is relieved by tlre aforesaid cushion-blocks (94h) against'which the actuating cam-members bear.

Supported by yokes 96 above said primary .push-plates are secondarypush-plates or bars 97 moving therewith and extending forwardly on thelevels of the tops of the discharge sections of the hoppers. Thesesecondary push-plates or bars serve to laterally shove the cleatsmomentarily rested on the top edges of said sections in'feeding theretoas previously. described, so as to drop them onto the stacks therein.Like the primary push-plates, they are slotted for adjustment.

llhe yokes supporting said secondary pushplates also support parallelrods 98 which extend forwardly at both sides of the hop.

per dischargesections to slide in the aforementioned guide-brackets 89and carrythe lcam-elements ('86.) for lifting the spanfbars .85. Theserods are longitudinally adjust'-y able in the yokes by set-screws 99 soas to regulate the cam action, lifting said spanbars by under-riding thesame with forwardmovement of the pusher-members and releasing them todrop again with' backward movement of4 said members.-

With .the described .movement of ,these y .pusher-members issynchronized the action of iso j izo elements vfor feeding the cleatsfrom the feeding to the discharge sections of the hoppers. Said elementsin this instance comprise pushbars 100 (see Figs. 1 and 3) workingtogether inguide-ways under the stacks of the feeding sections `toengage the ends of the lowermost cleats therein and push them outlongitudinally across the bridge-member and between 4the glue-applyingrollers to the discharge sections as already described.

These push-bars are reciproc-ated with the aforesaid pusher-members soas to feed the cleats in replenishing number as the pushermembers moveon the expulsion and drive stroke, but travel faster in both directionsthan said pusher-members. This is accom- -plished by novel transmissionof drive from the same shaft 71) that motivates the aforementionedcross-heads.

This transmission is effected through crank-arms 101 on projected endsof said shaft (71) imparting oscillatory movement to similar arms 102(on opposite sides of the machine table) by connecting pitman-rods 103.These oscillated arms have slot-ways for adjustmentl of swing-arc orthrow and carry segment gears 104 coacting with small4 1 gears 105 torotate separate shafts 106 alternately in opposite directions withforward and backward swing. Said shafts (106) are journaled in bracketstransversely of the table and carry large gears 107 on their oppositeends. These large gears are engaged by rack-bars 108 to which theyimpart recip-v rocable movement with'opposite rotations of their shafts.Said rack-bars extend longitudinally of the table abreast the aforesaidfeeding sections and are held down to engagement with the gears bybrackets 109 through which theymove. On their forward ends they carrygears 110 working betweenv other rack-bars 111 and 112 in parallelrelation. The last-mentioned rack-bars are 'shown supported bet-Ween theaforesaid brackets (109) and similar brackets 113 at the fronts of thefeeding sections. The upper of these bars (111) are stationary while thelower 112) are reciprocably slidable in the supporting brackets and havelateral connection With the aforesaid push-bars 100 (under the feedingsections) for reciprocating the latter therewith. From the foregoing it'will be understood that as the racksbars 108 Aare actuated back andforth (with alternate vrotations of shafts 106), the gears 110 thereonratcheting against the upper rack-bars 111) impart accelerated movementin both directions to the lower rack-bars (112) and push-bars connectedthereto, with the result that replenishing cleats will be fed to thedischarge sections simultaneously with but slightly in advance of theexpulsion there-` lflrom on each cleating stroke of the crosseads.

The illustrative machine is adapted to op-v erate as described on slatsof different thicknesses required for different purposes. makingbox-ends for example, slats of slightly more than standard thickness arepreferably used, and the double grooving 4saws forming double grooves inthe ends thereof provide for the production of very strong compositesections with the forcing of cleats into these double grooves at bothends simultaneously. Such composite sections are allowed to dischargedirectly off the table into suitable receivers, or if they are to besawed into two complete sections of single-cleating each, they arepassed onto a slicing machine adjusted to cut them longitudinally. Ifdesired, obviously single-cleat sections maybe formed by using onlysingle grooving saws and single cleat-inserting push-plates.

In Fig. 4 vthe end of a double-grooved tier of slats is representedbetween the discharge' sections of the cleat hoppers, in position forcleats to be driven simultaneously into both grooves in opposite endsthereof. Slats with treble or more grooves may be cleated in the sameway by a simple and obvious addition of parts to so adapt the machine. y

Thus the machine has acapacity and eiliciency greatly exceeding thesingle-cleating machine of the co-pending application. Its gross outputwill be double that of the other machine if double-cleated sections ofslats are to be sawed into two, and triple that of the other machine iftriple-cleated sections .are to be sawed into three, and so on.Withvportions of this shaft work through hangerbearings (not visible inthe drawings) extending upwardly through transverse grooves in the tabletop and fastened respectively to the ledge-rails on opposite sides ofthe table. Said shaft carries a hand-crank (not shown) on one end androtation thereof is imparted to the aforementioned twoway worm-shaft 49through a chain 115 passing over sprockets 114n and 49a respectively onthe two shafts. An idling sprocket 116 ad'- vantageously serves fortightening this chain. The rotor-shafts of the grooving saw motors alsoextend` through transverse slots in the table top and pass throughapertured lugportions 117 of the ledge-rails (see Fig. 3). v

F rom the foregoing, it will be understood gluing means on one side ofthe table being 4 connected and movable with the ledge-raildrive-transmission and gluing means on the on that side and thepush-over levers, trimsaw, grooving saws and cleat-hopper with otherside ofthe table being connected and movable with the ledge-rail onlsaid 'other '15' ly in maintained relation.

side, so that all parts are moved cooperative- The reason for mountingthe trim-saw motor for movement transversely of the table is thusexplained. As'the parts aremoved to' i'1ariable.adjustment in the mannerstated, the bevel-gear 3()`is also moved along' itsshaft`26 inuninterrupted engagement with the gear 81 formaintaining the drivebetween said shaft and the shaft 20 ofthe transverse conveyor.

The machine as hereinbefore indicated ispowered by an electric motor 29,which in this instance operates through, a reduction gear 118 fordriving the operable parts at appropriate speeds. A motor control switchis represented at 119 in Fig. 3.

An improved high-speed-machine for making composite Wooden sectionsvorbox-ends is thus provided. As various changes and modifications inconstruction with different,

combinations and sub-combinations of parts -may be made Withoutdeparting from the vscope of the invention, itis -not intended to limit.the same by lthe appended claimsv to'l the specific constructionshown.A

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Lety v side-byesidein loose tiers; means trimming ters Patentvot the United States is '1. A machine for making composite panels from'odd lengths of lumber, .comprising inl combination, a table; a hopper onthe table in which lumber pieces are arranged side-'by 'side in loosetiers; an endless conveyor working below ,said hopper to successivelyremove and convey the tiers of pieces therefrom; a

second endless conveyor working at substantia'll/y right angles to thefirst conveyor and ontowhich the formerdelivers; -means for trimming thepieces to` equal'lengths andV means for cutting a plurality of' groovestherein at both ends- While carried by the second conveyor; aplatform-portion onto which `t-he'last named conveyor' delivers 'thepieces still in loose tiers; a push-element engaging behindthed'eli-vered pieces to move' porari'ly held under lateral compressionduring a cleating operation; means cooperatively actuating said push andstopelements and holding the same with the pieces stationary duringthe'cleating operation; cleat-feeding hoppers arranged on opposite sidesofsaid' platform-portion where the pieces are held between the push andstop elements; means fordriving a plurality of cleats from said of thepieces simultaneously as they are held under compression between' thehoppers; and means'feeding cleats into said hoppers coordinately withthe discharge therefrom.

2. A machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the means drivingthe cleats from the opposed hoppers into the grooved hoppers and intothe grooves at both ends pieces serves in'part. to feed the cleatsthereinto. 't

3. A machine according tothe first claim wherein the cleats feeding intothe-opposed hoppers are passed in relation to means applying-a coatingof glue theretoi 4. A machine according to the first claim,

pieces to hold -them down firmly while im-' i.

pelled along the table bythe second conveyor comprising spring-liketamps angularly deveyorsbpath of movement.

.6. In a composite-panelpe'ndingffrom bars supported over said con- Ywherein the cleat-driving meansA applies a` akinglnachine, l

means assembling a number of wooden slats 1 siderby-side in loose tiers;means trimming y the 'slatsto'equal lengths; means forming a pluralityof grooves in the ends thereof; and

means applying a plurality of cleats simultaneously into said grooves.yl f 7. n -a'composite-panel-mahing machine, means assembling a number ofWooden slats vendsvthereo-fymeans momentarily holding and laterallycompressing the grooved Vslats of the tiers successively for acleat-applying operation; and means applying a plurality of cleatssimultaneously into said grooves. l

8. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding cleats orsplines in application to the grooved ends of slats compris ing adjacenthopper-structures of different height in which the cleats are stackedand vfed from one tothe other", together with' ineaiislor pushing apredetermined number of cleats from the Abottoms of the twosiinultaneously, `according to a predetermined cycle of operation; theVcleats from the one being pushed to position for dropping into the otherandv the cleats from vsaid other being ,forced I( atfdi''eren't levels)Idirectly into the grooved ends ofthe' slats positioned receptivelytherel 9. In combination with cleat-feeding means according4 to thepreceding claim, means for applying a coating of glue to the cleats asthey are pushed from the one hopper-structure to the other, said meansembodying complementary rollers co-operably journaled between thestructures and exposed to a bath of glue in position for applying acoating of the latter to the cleats passed successively therebetween.

10.' Cleat-feeding means according to claim 8, wherein the means forsimultaneously pushing a predetermined number of cleats from the bottomof the two hopper-structures have associated means operating to forcethe cleats discharged from the one to drop into the other formaintaining a full supply in the latter.

11. In a machine ofthe character described, means for feeding cleats orsplines in application to the grooved opposite ends of a group or tierof slats, comprising-opposing hopperstructures between which the slatsare positioned and held under lateral compression, each of saidstructures embodying adjacent sections with the bottom of one level withthe top of the other and in which the cleats are stacked and fed fromthe one to the other across a, bridging member, together with means forexpelling a plurality of cleats from 1 the bottoms of the two sectionsof both structures simultaneously according toa predetermined operativecycle, the cleats from the one section of each structure being pushed topositionfor dropping into the other section and the cleats from saidother section being forced at different levels directly into theopposing grooved ends of the slats.

l2. A machine for making composite panwith the bottom of one level withthe top of the other and in which the cleats are stacked and fed fromthe one to the other across a bridging member; means for drivingaplurality ofthe cleats at different levels from said one section of eachhopper simultaneously and directly into the grooves at both ends of thepieces as they are held under compression between said hoppers; andassociated means for simultaneously feeding a corresponding number ofthe cleats from said another to the aforesaid one section of each hopperto keep the latter full.

In testimony whereof I' aliX my signature.

HAROLD PITMAN SCHUCK.

els from odd lengths of lumber, comprising in combination, a table; ahopper on the table in which lumber pieces are arranged side-byside inloose tiers; an endless conveyor working below said hopper tosuccessively remove and convey the tiers of pieces therefrom; a secondendless conveyor working at substantiall right angles to the rstconveyor and onto w uch the former dellvers; means i for trimming thepieces to equal lengths and means for cutting a plurality of groovestherein at both ends while carried by the second'conveyor; aplatform-portion onto which the last named conveyor delivers the piecesstill in loose tiers; a/push-element engaging behind the deliveredpiecesto move them forwardly on said/platform-portion; Ia

shifting stop-bar between which and isaid push-element the delivefedpieces are .temporarily held under lateral compression during a cleatingoperation; means co-operatively actuating said pushr and and stopelements and holding the same with the pieces stationary during thecleating operation; cleat-feeding hoppers arranged on opposite sides ofsaid platform-portion where the pieces are held between the push andstop elements, said hoppers each comprising adjacent sections roo

